Author: Marcia Meara

The 2018 Interview Series Featuring Darlene Foster

/ Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

Check out Don Massenzio’s lovely interview of Darlene Foster. Darlene is a familiar face around here, and it’s great to get to know her better. Thanks to Don for this wonderful series of interviews, and to Darlene for being such a warm and gracious interviewee!

Unknown's avatarDon Massenzio

Welcome to the 2018 author interview series. Author interviews will be posted every Friday throughout the year.

I am honored to continue this series with author Darlene Foster.

For those of you that have read my interviews in the past, you’ll find a new set of questions in this series. You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directorypage.

If you’re an author interested in being interviewed in this series, I still have limited spots available for 2018. You can email me at don@donmassenzio.com

Now, please enjoy this interview with Darlene Foster:

_MG_0156sm-EditDo you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I try to do a bit of both. I certainly want to be original but not to be so out of touch that nobody will read my books. On the other hand, I am…

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Cover Reveal: Cusp of Night by Mae Clair

/ Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

Mae Clair has a new series coming out in June, and here’s her cover reveal for the first book! I think you’ll agree that it’s a winner. Makes me think of covers by Chris McGrath, and that’s the highest compliment I can bestow. Check it out, and help spread the word. Congratulations, Mae!

Mae Clair's avatarFrom the Pen of Mae Clair

Today is uber-exciting for me! At long last, I’m able to share the cover and blurb for Cusp of Night, the first book in my upcoming Hode’s Hill series. Cusp of Night  will release on June 12th, but in the interim, it’s available to add to your TBR on Goodreads.

I have many good friends sharing this cover across the blogosphere today and tomorrow, so you’re likely to see it pop up in various places. Thank you to everyone participating in my cover reveal splash, and to everyone dropping by to share in my excitement.   Here’s my new baby . . .

book cover for Cusp of Night, a mystery/suspense novel by Mae Clair

Release Date: June 12, 2018
Genre: Mystery/Suspense

BLURB:
Recently settled in Hode’s Hill, Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore, especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific murders, the Fiend has evolved into the…

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#ThisJustIn – Tea Drinkers, Rejoice!

/ Marcia Meara / 53 Comments

 

Got a newsletter from my doctor’s office yesterday, and the word is–tada!–tea drinkers are in luck! Here’s why:

  1. Drinking tea regularly can lower your blood pressure by 2 points, reducing your risk of stroke by 8%.
  2. Drinking just 3 cups of tea a day (easily done by me each morning) can slash the risk of hip fracture by THIRTY percent, and it gets even better!
  3. Black tea contains chemicals called flavonoids which help prevent brittle bones.
  4. Flavonoids are linked with lower cancer and heart disease risks.
  5. Every cup of black tea lowers the risk of hip fracture by 9%, thus three cups a day can cut that risk by a third!

Now if that doesn’t send you running for the Earl Grey (or Ceylon, or Assam, or any other of many, many perfectly delicious black teas), I don’t know why not. Frankly, since both my mother and my grandmother fell and broke their hips in their later years, the reduced risk of osteoporosis is enough to make me glad I’ve been a confirmed tea drinker all my adult life.

Okay, you guys have been alerted to this wonderful news. Now I’m going to go make my second cup of tea for the morning, perhaps a cup of Summer Rose. A perfect black tea with just a hint of rose petals. Sublime.

(Of course, for those of you who prefer a bit of company whilst testing out this whole “drinking tea is good for your health” thing, I happen to know where a really swell tea party is going to be happening this coming Saturday. Just sayin’ . . . )

(Oh, yeah. The newsletter also mentioned something about beet juice. I’ll let you know if I ever work my way up to that one!)

 

Last Call! Afternoon Tea at DeBary Hall

/ Marcia Meara / 8 Comments

“Earl Grey, hot.” You know you want it! So don’t wait any longer to make your reservations for the Afternoon Luncheon and Tea at DeBary Hall on Saturday, 3/10/18, at 11:00. Reservations MUST be in by this Friday, 3/2/18. The cost is $25, and includes a delicious catered lunch, unlimited cups of custom-blended teas, a reading from one of my books, a Q&A session, and a signed copy of one of my novels (your choice).

Such a deal, eh? And all of the fun takes place at DeBary Hall Historic Site. Don’t miss out! Call today, as seating is limited: (386)668-3840

Looking forward to seeing your smiling face over a cup of Sarah’s Favorite Earl Grey, Rabbit’s Hazelnut Chocolate, or one of 8 other custom blended teas!

Friday Book Cover: A few tricks

/ Marcia Meara / Leave a comment

Craig Boyack has a very interesting post on Story Empire today, dealing with ways to be sure your book cover does the best job possible. (Yes, covers have a big job to do: grab the attention of potential readers in a way that makes them want to buy your book at first glance.) I like the P. H. Solomon sample covers Craig chose to illustrate his topic, and how he defines some of the basic elements of good design. Check it out! (And don’t forget to share.)

coldhandboyack's avatarStory Empire

Hi gang, Craig here once more. Toward the end of last year we adopted a group of alternating topics for Story Empire, and when the debate was going on, I was probably late for class. My first friday assignment is to bring you something about cover art. I’m making this up as I go, but my idea is sound … if I can pull it off.

I’m going to pick on fellow Story Empire author, P. H. Solomon. This isn’t a blatant attempt to promote his work, but rather because he did everything so well here. Even so, I have to acknowledge his Bow of Hart Saga is outstanding, if you’re inclined to dig deeper.

One of the things to remember about visual arts is that the rules are more like guidelines. Sounds a lot like writing doesn’t it? Once upon a time, back when I could still buy Kodachrome…

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Guest Post – New Release from #TonyRiches

/ Marcia Meara / 7 Comments

Today, I’m happy to have guest Tony Riches, sharing the news about his latest work of historical fiction, Mary, Tudor Princess. I’ll let Tony tell you about this one in his own words, and I know you’ll help him get the news out.

~~~

I chose to write about Mary because I’d researched her birth and early life for my last book, Henry – Book Three of the Tudor Trilogy. In the trilogy I’d moved forward one generation with each book, so it appealed to me to write a ‘sequel’ which did the same. I’d become intrigued with Mary’s story of how she risked everything to defy her brother when he became King Henry VIII.  

I also wanted to explore Mary’s vulnerability as well as her strengths, and I was assisted in this by her brother, who broke off her engagement to young Prince Charles, future Emperor of Rome, to marry her off to the fifty-two-year-old King Louis XII of France. Although Mary was barely eighteen at the time, Henry saw his younger sister as a small price to pay for a treaty with France.

I enjoyed untangling the many myths about what happened next, from causing the death of King Louis with her ‘passionate exertions’ to her dying of ‘grief at her brother’s divorce from her friend Catherine of Aragon.’ I also had the benefit of knowing a great deal about the people and places of Mary’s world.

Mary – Tudor Princess is now available on Amazon UK, Amazon US and Amazon AU in eBook and paperback. An audiobook edition will be available later in the year.
~~~

BLURB

From the author of the international best-selling Tudor Trilogy, the true story of the Tudor dynasty continues with the daughter of King Henry VII, sister to King Henry VIII. Mary Tudor watches her elder brother become King of England and wonders what the future holds for her.  Born into great privilege, Mary has beauty and intelligence beyond her years and is the most marriageable princess in Europe. Henry plans to use her marriage to build a powerful alliance against his enemies. Will she dare risk his anger by marrying for love? Meticulously researched and based on actual events, this ‘sequel’ follows Mary’s story from book three of the Tudor Trilogy and is set during the reign of King Henry VIII.   


Author Tony Riches

About the Author Tony Riches is a full-time author of best-selling historical fiction. He lives in Pembrokeshire, West Wales and is a specialist in the fifteenth century, with a particular interest in the Wars of the Roses and the lives of the early Tudors.  For more information about Tony’s other books please visit his website tonyriches.com and his popular blog, The Writing Desk and find him on Goodreads as well as  Facebook and Twitter @tonyriches.

My Schedule of Local Events March thru May

/ Marcia Meara / 16 Comments

Believe it or not, I have had electricians, painters, and contractors to deal with this week, just when I thought I was nearly done with Irma, once and for all. Eeep. Therefore, I’m not really back to normal with my blogging and writing routine. However, I do have a lot of fun events scheduled every month through October.

For those of you in this area who might like to attend, here is a list of the ones open to the public, covering the next three months. Hope to see some of you at one or two of them! 🙂

MARCH 

SAT, 3/10 – DeBary Hall – Catered Luncheon and Tea 

Time: 11:00  
Cost – $25
Reservations Required by 2/28 (You may choose your lunch selection when you call)Includes luncheon with custom-blended teas, a reading, Q & A session, and a signed copy of one of my books, your choice.
Call (386) 668-3840 for directions or additional information.

APRIL

SAT, 4/7 – “Meet the Author” EcoTour River Cruise 

Time: 1:30
Cost – $30
Reservations required to hold a spot.
The Naiad departs from Highbanks Marina in DeBary. Your ticket includes full 2-hour tour, plus a short stop midway for a reading and brief Question & Answer session, and a signing back at the dock.
Call (386) 626-9004 for directions and addition information. (Please leave message if they are out on a tour. 

SAT, 4/28 – Enterprise Heritage Museum – Joint Wildlife Slide Presentation 

Time: 11:00
Cost – $10 (Includes Lunch)
Reservations Required
Joint Wildlife Presentation with Doug Little and Marcia Meara, in conjunction with Doug’s month-long wildlife photography museum exhibit.
Call (386) 259-5900 for directions and additional information.

MAY  

SAT, 5/12 – DeBary Hall – Central Florida’s Fabulous Wildlife #2
 Wading Birds of the St. Johns River Basin 

Time: 1:00
Cost: FREE
No Reservations Required
A slide presentation featuring the wading birds of central Florida, with plenty of tips on identification, and information on nesting, feeding habits, and more. All you have to do is show up, ready for a fun and informative presentation. Plenty of time for Q&A.
Call (386) 668-3840 for directions or additional information.

The 2018 Interview Series Featuring Elle Boca

/ Marcia Meara / 2 Comments

Florida author Don Massenzio is hosting a new series of author interviews for 2018, and this week, his guest is Elle Boca. Hope you’ll enjoy it, and share far and wide. I did! 🙂

Unknown's avatarDon Massenzio

Welcome to the 2018 author interview series. Author interviews will be posted every Friday throughout the year.

I am honored to continue this series with fellow Florida author Elle Boca.

For those of you that have read my interviews in the past, you’ll find a new set of questions in this series. You can catch up with all of my past author interviews (nearly 200) on my Author Directorypage.

If you’re an author interested in being interviewed in this series, I still have limited spots available for 2018. You can email me at don@donmassenzio.com

Now, please enjoy this interview with Elle Boca:

eb elleboca headshotDo you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I strive to write something original and at the same time rewarding, enriching and entertaining. A tall order, I know! While superhuman stories have been around for years generally urban fantasy and…

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